[based on translation by narwhaltortellini]

SUMMARY:

Mihashi jogs with Abe's bike as they head to the doctor's. Abe gets irritated as Mihashi constantly glances back at Abe to check on him. Abe notes that while he thinks Mihashi is a good guy, he can't help but be irritated by him. He wonders if the coach was suggesting the same thing as his father, about he and Mihashi's relationship, when she decided to make them do these things together. He thinks both he and Mihashi are trying their hardest to get along and does not understand what else they are supposed to do.

The two get to a hill, and Mihashi gets behind Abe's bike to push it up. When they arrive at the doctor's it is very busy and there is an hour wait before Abe can be seen. Mihashi follows a training menu written up by Momokan for him to use while he waits, and he runs very hard, thinking about trying his hardest to help the team get seeded this fall.

When they see the doctor, Mihashi is completely exhausted and pants throughout the entire conversation. The doctor tells Abe his leg is healing well and he can start full body and isometric exercises. The doctor then asks if the two boys are from Nishiura and if Momokan also went there when she was younger. When Abe confirms she did, the doctor is delighted to be right, as he had thought he remembered Momokan. He says he remembers that she was the baseball team manager and that she frequently took a player to see him. He tells Abe to tell Momokan it was nice to see her.

Outside and ready to head back, Abe tries to have a conversation with Mihashi about Momokan's past. Mihashi misunderstands what Abe is trying to talk about and gets confused, causing Abe to give up. Both notice their difficulty communicating and note how sometimes they are able to talk more fluidly with one another, but they cannot now.

As they start back, Abe remembers to ask Mihashi about what they will do for breakfast. The two agree they can just make some rice with eggs, natto, and nori. They get to another hill, and Mihashi pushes Abe again.

When they get back, Mihashi is again exhausted. Momokan asks Mihashi what the doctor said, but he can't think of what to answer, so Abe answers for him. Abe also tells her what the doctor said about remembering her. Momokan says nothing back for a moment, surprising Abe. She then thanks Abe for telling her and tells the two to go in to listen to Shiga's talk.

Shiga lectures the team on food and nutrition. He talks about the importance of helping your body grow bigger, and how food can help with that. He talks about the amount they should eat (4500 calories since that is how much they will burning with their camp activities) and how often (they will be having 3 meals and 3 snacks throughout the day), and when (less than 2 hours after exercising to best utilize the food). He then talks about carbohydrates and proteins and how much they should eat of each. After talking about body fat percentages, (the boys should stay under 10%), he moves on to vitamins. As he continues to talk, Abe notes that this is going to make cooking breakfast troublesome, especially if he has to do it with Mihashi.

The team has lunch and goes to practice. Abe sits mending balls and continues to think about the troubles of making breakfast. Momokan comes to give him an athlete's cookbook, and he apologizes and admits to her he does not think they can make breakfast alone.

Momokan calls over Chiyo and Mihashi. She explains the situation and asks Chiyo to help for the first few days, though she is clear that Chiyo is only to help and Abe and Mihashi are to be the main workers. She gives them fifteen minutes to decide on a meal. Mihashi mentions he was about to go to the bullpen, and Abe tells him it is fine and that he and Chiyo can decide the menu themselves. Momokan becomes angry and tells them that he and Mihashi need to decide the menu together.

Mihashi stays and the three discuss the meal. They talk about whether they will have bread or rice, and Mihashi says yes to both, irritating Abe and making Chiyo laugh. Abe thinks rice will be easier, so they agree to this. The three try to decide a main dish by giving the cookbook to Mihashi to pick something. They ask him what he'd like to eat, and Mihashi lists many things, again irritating Abe since likely Mihashi cannot actually cook any of these things. As it turns out, Mihashi can at least cook ham and eggs, so Chiyo thinks they should do that.

As they move on, Abe says that he doesn't understand the stuff about vitamin and minerals at all, and Chiyo laughs quite a bit, surprising them. She then starts talking about other things they could have as side dishes before realizing she is saying too much when Abe and Mihashi are suppose to be deciding. The three continue to talk, and eventually manage to settle on a menu.

When they finish, Abe excuses Mihashi to go practice, and he runs off quickly. Chiyo notes that Mihashi must love practicing. Abe thanks Chiyo for helping them, bringing up the lackluster meal they had been planning on making before. Chiyo says it might be salvageable if they add some fruit to it, but admits it would be rather lazy.

Chiyo leaves, saying she will check if they need to buy any ingredients. She heads out of the fence. While out of sight from the field, she squats down, blushing madly. She can't believe how lucky she is to end up in this situation. Still, she clears her head and stands, thinking she must be careful. Abe doesn't think anything about her anyway, and it would be very bad if anyone noticed she likes him and it made things awkward. She consoles herself with the fact that Mihashi will be there and she will not be alone with Abe, and resolves to act normally.

After afternoon practice ends, the boys eat dinner. They take a nap, study, do more practice in the form of skateboarding, take baths and have their evening snack, have a meeting, write in their journals, and then go to bed.

The next morning when the team is at morning practice, Abe and Mihashi go into the kitchen to cook breakfast. As they enter, Chiyo is already there wearing an apron. Abe comments on how eager Chiyo seems. As the two stand together talking, Mihashi notes how Abe seems to have gotten bigger and how small Chiyo looks next to him. Chiyo offers each boy an apron, but neither takes one.

Chiyo has set out the ingredients for them to start. She says they should start cooking the rice and asks if either has washed rice before. Mihashi begins to say he has, and is then embarrassed when he hears Abe has not, but still quietly admits he has anyway. Chiyo then asks him to wash the rice, explaining some things as they go.

Abe suddenly tells Mihashi not to hold any knives. Chiyo looks a bit shocked to hear this, but Mihashi agrees to do what Abe says. Abe then tells him not to do any cooking either and to just stick to washing and setting the table. Chiyo is again surprised, and Mihashi again agrees. Chiyo finally interrupts, reminding them they are supposed to be cooking together. Abe argues that if Mihashi hurts a finger he won't be able to pitch for a day or two. Chiyo says that he can cut with his right hand to make sure it stays safe, and he can just be careful while he is cooking. Abe is skeptical about Mihashi's ability to be careful and argues that it's not like he's stopping Mihashi from doing everything.

Mihashi listens, noticing gladly that though the two are disagreeing Abe does not seem angry. Chiyo, however, listens to Abe's slightly gruff words and begins to look a bit shocked and then possibly on the verge of tears. Mihashi notices and scrambles to do something. He grabs a knife and carrot and pronounces that he can be careful while cutting. Abe become angry that Mihashi did not listen to him and gives him a noogie whilst Mihashi still holds the knife, worrying Chiyo with how reckless they are being.

Abe settles down and reminds Mihashi to be careful but allows him to continue using the knife. Mihashi peels and chops the carrot, and Abe points out that he is chopping the pieces rather big for miso soup. Chiyo laughs perhaps a little too enthusiastically at his observation, startling Abe.

When the meal is finished and served, everyone is surprised by how edible it seems (large carrots in the miso soup notwithstanding).

Elsewhere, the first match at Koushien stadium is about to start. As they wait, the twins from Kasukabe spot Haruna with his team, pointing him out as “the best southpaw in this tournament.”